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The Regional Transportation Authority, which provides Chicago-area transit, said Monday it has filed a lawsuit accusing United Airlines of operating a “sham office” in a Chicago suburb to evade sales taxes on fuel.

The RTA accused American Airlines of the same offense, but didn’t file a lawsuit against that carrier – yet – because American and parent AMR are operating in federal bankruptcy court.

In its announcement, the transit authority said United and American “operate sham offices in Sycamore, Ill., that they use to avoid paying higher taxes from their actual offices in Chicago.”

“These small, part-time offices are rarely occupied and, in at least one case, don’t appear to even have a computer,” the RT A said. “But both multi-billion dollar companies claim they purchase their jet fuel – one of their largest expenses – from those offices.”

The two carriers denied wrongdoing.

American spokeswoman Mary Frances Fagan, while noting that American isn’t part of the lawsuit and doesn’t comment on pending litigation, added that “what it does regarding jet fuel purchasing in the Land of Lincoln is permissible under Illinois law.”

ABC News quotes United: “”In fact, the operation of our fuel subsidiary in Sycamore has been examined by tax authorities in the past and has been determined to comply with all applicable laws. We will vigorously defend ourselves against these claims.”

In the YouTube video at the top of this item, the RTA lays out its case against the two carriers.

“How would you like to eat a gourmet meal at a four-star restaurant and only pay for the appetizer? Or fill up your gas tank but pay less than the guy at the next pump? Sound good?” the voice-over says.

“United and American Airlines think so. They’ve got a deal where they’ve got all the perks of operating in a world-class city like Chicago but they don’t pay their fair share for it.”